Students brushing up on skills at Saturday school

Jan. 25, 2014

Tigrett Middle School sixth-grade teacher Cheryl Pruitte instructs students during the second week of Saturday school. Saturday school is offered to students who need extra help in subjects such as language arts and mathematics before the TCAP testing in April. / NICHOLE MANNA/The Jackson Sun

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More than 100 Tigrett Middle School students participated in the second week of Saturday school this weekend. Saturday school is offered to students who need extra help in subjects such as language arts and mathematics before the TCAP testing in April. / NICHOLE MANNA/The Jackson Sun

Tigrett Middle School seventh-grade math teacher Jerald Franklin instructs students during the second week of Saturday school. Saturday school is offered to students who need extra help in subjects such as language arts and mathematics before the TCAP testing in April. / NICHOLE MANNA/The Jackson Sun

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More than 100 Tigrett Middle School students participated in the second week of Saturday school this weekend.

Saturday school is offered to students who need extra help in subjects such as language arts and mathematics before the TCAP testing in April.

Principal Tenganyike Cook says that she always tells her students to strive to be the best middle school in West Tennessee and one step of that is raising test scores.

We did well on our test scores, but we can do better, she said.

Based off previous test scores, teachers and administrators are able to see in what subjects each student needs to improve. They use that data to determine the areas in which the Saturday school teachings are based.

Students could be invited to attend one session of Saturday school or multiple sessions depending on their need.

The 9 a.m. to noon invitation-only program is completely voluntary, but Cook strongly encourages parents to send their students.

We send out letters on Wednesday explaining to parents what is going to be happening on Saturday  what skills their student will be learning  and the kids bring those letters back to us on Friday, Cook said.

The school also provides bus pick-up at four locations: Pope Elementary at 8:20 a.m., Gander Mountain at 8:30 a.m., Andrew Jackson Elementary at 8:40 a.m., and the central office at 8:45 a.m. Students also can be dropped off at Tigrett at 8:55 a.m. and picked up at noon.

Students are given lunch, which is a 6-inch Subway sub, chips and juice, around 11 a.m.

Saturday school will continue until the TCAP testing in April but will not be provided during spring break.